Do you like to get your hands dirty on the weekends and pretend like you’re the host of your own personal HGTV reality show? Welcome to the world of being an ambitious homeowner. As you’ve probably figured out by now, getting the job done quickly and efficiently almost always requires having the right tool. With that being said, here are some of the top tools every weekend warrior like yourself needs in the garage.
1. Ryobi 10-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
https://www.ryobitools.com/
A miter saw is one of those power tools every homeowner needs. It has a ton of different applications and comes in handy on a weekly basis. While it’s not as portable as other cutting tools, it’s powerful and flexible. You can spend thousands on a miter saw, but this 10-inch sliding compound miter saw from Ryobi is perfectly adequate for the weekend warrior. You’ll especially love the sliding feature for when you have boards wider than 5.5 inches.
2. Porter-Cable Nailer Combo Kit
https://www.amazon.com/
At first, you may not think you need a nail gun. But after you buy one, you’ll suddenly find a ton of different uses. While you can go out and piece one together – buying one nail gun and a separate air compressor – it’s much more cost-effective to purchase this Porter-Cable combo kit. It comes with a finish nailer, brad nailer, crown stapler, and a powerful air compressor.
3. Irwin Quick-Grip Clamp Set
https://www.amazon.com/
You only have two hands, which means wood clamps are your best friend when it comes to holding things in place during a quick DIY project. While there are many different types of clamps, these quick-grip clamps from Irwin are a favorite among weekend warriors. They can be controlled with just one hand and apply adequate pressure for quick and easy reinforcement.
4. Black+Decker Cordless Drill/Driver
https://www.amazon.com/
Corded drills are cheap and reliable, so it’s always good to have a couple on hand. However, there are times where you don’t have access to a plug or don’t want to deal with the hassle of a bulky cord. This is when cordless drills come in handy. While you could technically spend hundreds, you can get this Black+Decker cordless drill/driver for less than $50.
5. Drill Master Palm Sander
http://www.harborfreight.com/
Every now and then you’ll need to sand something and busting up your hands performing a manual sand job is no fun. There are a variety of automatic sanders on the market, but you don’t need anything super nice. You may only pull it out once every couple of months, so this little palm sander from Drill Master will do the trick. At less than $20, it’s a steal.
6. Porter-Cable Jigsaw
https://www.lowes.com/
While a miter saw is great, sometimes you need to cut out specific shapes. The flexibility of the jigsaw makes it ideal for doing everything from cutting boards to size to making intricate wooden ornaments. It can cut through wood, PVC pipe, and even metal. A jigsaw is a tool that you’ll continue to find new uses for the longer you own it. This one from Porter-Cable is both low-cost and high-quality. It takes both T and U shank blades, which means you won’t ever have any trouble finding replacement blades.
One Tool at a Time
While it’s fun to buy tools and you can easily get carried away walking the aisles of your local home improvement store, remember to take things slow. Only buy tools you need and try to buy combination tools that let you perform multiple tasks. Specialty tools should only be purchased when you’re sure you’ll get a return on your investment.
Best of luck!